Runningwater Warmbloods

Gardenia

Gardenia, aka "Gigi," is a welcome addition to the broodmare band here at Runningwater Warmbloods. With a pedigree full of Grand Prix producers and performers, Gigi brings wonderful bloodlines.

Gigi's sire Negro was awarded “Preferent” status in 2012 and was named KWPN Stallion of the Year 2017. Negro's most famous son, Valegro, won double Olympic Gold in London 2012 and won the Individual Gold medal in Rio de Janeiro 2016, among many other achievements.

Negro himself competed up to Grand Prix dressage, proving himself to have unbelievable talent for piaffe and passage and a remarkable willingness to work. Negro's sire Ferro competed at all the international Championships for the Dutch dressage Team, including the 2000 Olympics. Negro's dam descends from a top damline, combining the international stallions “Variant” and “Gondelier (keur)” with the top mares Fewrie (preferent, IBOP AA 92) and Mewrie (keur, preferent, prestatie, sport), and Geerie (ster, preferent, prestatie) who stand for sport, strength, and great quality.

During the 2001 World Championships in Verden, Negro was the best 6-year-old KWPN horse. Negro has successfully completed at small tour level. Of his four starts, he won three times. His first start in the Big Tour, he won convincingly with a score of 72.50%, a super debut, showing his unparalleled talent for piaffe and passage.

Negro's dressage index is 150 with a reliability of 92%.Numerous offspring have competed up to International Grand Prix, including Valegro, who may be the best Grand Prix horse ever. Negro offspring are highly appreciated because of their great character, willingness to work, balance, rideabelity, and off course the strong use of the hindleg and great potential for collection. Negro’s offspring make a stir everywhere, with champions, approved stallions and daughters everywhere in the world. Through the powerful and positive influences of his genetics, he is becoming increasingly valued as a maternal sire.

Damsire Contango won 33 Grand Prix classes, including six championships. He is the sire of dozens of grand prix jumpers and dressage horses, including Ravel, Alcazar and Caravella, along with seven Approved stallions.

Contango began his career as the champion of his 100-day test in Medingen in 1991 with a score of 146.89. He won both the dressage and jumping portions to claim the championship, and finished with one of the highest overall scores of all time. At the time of Contango’s passing, he was the only Preferent stallion in North America. This honor is awarded to the few stallions who demonstrate outstanding individual qualities and who produce exceptional get. His sons and daughters inherit their sire’s athletic ability, movement and versatility.

Contango's son Ravel represented the U.S.A. in two Olympics, and made history with his clean sweep at CHIO Aachen in 2009, his victory in the 2009 Rolex FEI World Cup Dressage Finals and two medals at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in 2010. ​

Second damsire May Sherif convincingly won his Danish stallion test in 1975 but didn't see real popularity as a sire until 1988, when two of his offspring competed at the Seoul Olympic Games: Andiamo, then ridden by the Swiss Otto Hofer, and Matador ridden by Kyra Kyrklund.

It's easy to see the dressage ability saturating Gigi's bloodlines. I eagerly look forward to seeing her foals.